mhs homes’ CEO to cycle 1,000 miles for charity

Published: 15 May, 2014

mhs homes’ chief executive, Ashley Hook, is currently preparing to cycle 1,000 miles from Cape Wrath to Dover to raise money for the Kent Autistic Trust.

The 12-day challenge will see Mr Hook cycling over 85 miles per day from the most north-westerly point of the UK to the most south-easterly point with only his bike for company. The challenge starts from the remote Cape Wrath, the site of a British military live firing range, which is separated from the main road network by the Kyle of Durness and is only accessible by boat.

To prepare for the gruelling challenge, Mr Hook has been in serious training; despite battling injury he managed to complete the Friends of the Wisdom Hospice’s “Wheels for Wisdom” 65 mile ride, on the 11 May as part of his training.

The Cape Wrath to Dover cycle is a similar feat to the well-known Lands End to John O’Groats route, which Mr Hook completed in 2006. He is completing this as a personal challenge and has previously taken part in fundraising events such as the Dartmoor ten-tors challenge, the Trans-Borneo and Trans-Cuba cycle challenges, open water swims in London, Windermere and Salford Quays, tackling the 10 highest mountains in England and mhs homes’ biennial sleep-out, last held at its Broadside office in January 2014.

Mr Hook said: “Kent Autistic Trust is a fantastic local charity; it makes a real difference to people’s lives and has inspired me to challenge myself to help raise much-needed funds. I am 50 this year – call it a mid life crisis – but I really want to do something to help their incredible work.”

mhs homes will be supporting the Kent Autistic Trust through a range of fundraising events this year. It recently raised £5,600 at a charity golf day, held on 23 April, at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course, and has a long history of supporting local charities - raising £33,815 for the Friends of the Wisdom Hospice in 2013.